Combined propelling and steering assembly



Feb. 21, 1961 J. c. PAUL COMBINED PROPELLING AND STEERING ASSEMBLY Filed May 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. .1.

INVENTORT dUL/l/J 0. P4

To POM/E2 PLAN ATTOENE Y8.

Feb. 21, 1961 J.C.PAUL

COMBINED PROPELLING AND STEERING ASSEMBLY Filed May 22, 1959 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVEFVTOR.

JUL /UJ a. PA (/4,

%% gwmzm2 -@Mm COMBINED PROPELLING AND STEERING ASSEMBLY Julius C. Paul, P.(). Box 287, Fulton, Tex.

Filed May 22, 1959, Ser. No. 815,146

4 Claims. (Cl. 115-35) This invention relates to a novel and improved airpropeller propelling and steering assembly for vehicles and water craft.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simpler, more practical and eflicient assembly of this kind which is more readily adaptable to installation and operation in different forms of vehicles, especially boats.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly of the character indicated above wherein the propelling and steering propeller unit is more compact and space-saving, especially in a boat installation, and wherein the operative connections between the propeller and the driving motor or engine are compact and efficient and permit of diiferent locations of the propeller unit and the motor or engine.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, .a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a schematic view of an assembly of the invention installed in a boat, the latter being shown in fragmentary vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of Figure 1, portions of the steering mechanism being shown in phantom lines; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical trans verse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated assembly comprises an air-propeller unit 16, and steering mechanism 12, mounted in appropriate locations on a vehicle, such as. a boat 14, the propeller unit being driven by a motor (not shown) located on the boat.

The propeller unit comprises a tubular vertical housing 16, preferably of frusto-conical form, having on its larger lower end a peripheral lateral mounting flange 18, traversed by fastening means, such as bolts 20, carrying a clamping ring 22 which is concentric to and coextensive with the flange 18, the flange 18 to bear upon the upper side and the ring 22 the underside of a support, such as the horizontal decking 24 of a boat 14.

The smaller upper end of the housing 16 is reinforced and partially closed by a thickened internal annular flange 28 having a vertical axial bearing bore 30 therethrough. Fixed at their lower ends to intermediate parts of the sidewall of the housing 16 are upwardly divergent, circumferentially spaced support or bracket arms 32 having horizontal laterally outwardly extending feet 34 on their upper ends. A stationary horizontal disc 36 rests upon the feet 34 and is removably secured in place by vertical bolts 38 which extend through peripheral edge portions of the disc and the feet 34. Engaging the peripheral edge of the disc 36, at the locations of the feet 34 are reclining U-shaped combined bearings and retainers 41), having vertical bight portions 42 bearing ties P en against the peripheral edge 44 of the disc 36, upper horizontal arms 46 spaced above the disc 36 and horizontal lower arms 48 spaced below the disc 36. The arms 46 and 48 extend radially inwardly relative to the peripheral edge 44 of the disc, and the lower arms 48 engage the undersides of the feet 34 and are fixed removably in place by the bolts 38 being extended therethrough.

'Concentric with and bearing rotatably upon the upper surface of the disc 36 is a relatively heavy rotary disc 50, of the same diameter as the disc 36, and having a peripheral edge 52 which bears against the bight portions 42 of the retainers 40, the rotary disc 50 being held down in place by the upper arms 46 of the retainers. The underside and the peripheral edge 52 of the disc 50 are cut away to provide a clearance groove 54 for the nuts 56 on the upper ends of the bolts 48.

Fixed to the underside of the rotary disc 50 and depending therefrom is an axial externally threaded tubular stub 58, onto which is threaded an enlarged diameter socket 60 which is fixed on the upper end of a vertical steeringtube 62. The steering tube 62 depends through and is journalled in the bearing bore 30 on the upper end of the housing 16, with the underside of the socket 60 spaced above and near to the upper end of the housing. A set screw 64 traverses the socket 66 and engages the stub 58 to lock the same against relative rotation.

The socket 60 is journalled at its upper end in a central bearing opening 66 provided in the stationary disc 36, a bevelled bearing flange 68 on the upper end of the socket being supportably engaged upon a bevelled bearing surface 70 at and around the upper end of the bearing opening 66, the arrangement being such that rotation of the steering tube 62, by means hereinafter described, produces and controls rotation of the rotary disc 56.

Supported centrally upon the upper surface of the rotary disc 50 is a flat annular bearing housing 72 which has, at its lower end, a lateral flange 74 through which machine screws or studs 76 are threaded into the disc 50 to hold the bearing housing in place. A central recess 78 in the underside of the housing '72 confines an annular anti-friction bearing 80 upon the disc 50, concentrically with respect to an axial vertical bore 82, which extends through the disc 50 and the stub 58, the opening 84 through the bearing 80 being smaller in diameter than the bore 82 and the bore of the steering tube 62 so that a vertical propeller driving shaft 86 ex- I tending downwardly through the bearing 86, is maintained in concentrically spaced relation to the stub 58 and the steering tube 62.

The bearing housing 72 has in its upper end a concentric opening 88, smaller in diameter than and opening to the recess 78, in which is located the stub 96 of an enlarged bevel gear 92, which is supported on an annular antifriction bearing 94 which surrounds the stub and rests upon the upper end of the bearing housing 72. In the upper end and the peripheral edge of the housing 72 is formed an annular groove 96 in which is seated a base ring 98 on the lower end of a globular gear housing 100. Studs 102,, threaded upwardly through the housing 72 and the base ring 98, hold the gear hous-j ing 100 in place, and have their heads within countersinks 104 provided in the underside of the bearing house ing 72. t x

A horizontal radial propeller shaft 106 extends through one side of the gear housing 100 and carries a fixed bevel gear 108 which is in mesh with the bevel gear 92, within the housing 100. The propeller shaft 106 is supportably j ournalled at its inward end, in a bearing 110 on the side of the housing 100, and at an intermediate point in a bearing sleeve 112 which is removably secured to 3 the exterior of the housing full, as indicated at 114. A suitable air propeller 116 is fixed on the outward end of the shaft 166.

As shown in Figure 3, thesteering tube 62 extends below the boat decking and freely through an opening 118 provided therein. A suitable friction drum, such as a dumbbell shaped drum 12% is circumposed on the steering tube 62, and fixed in place by a set screw 122, at a location or level such that the globular upper end 124 of the drum is within the deck opening 118.

The propeller driving shaft 36 can be operatively con nected in any suitable manner to a suitable motor or engine (not shown) within the boat. illustrated embodiment of the invention, wherein the propeller unit id is mounted on the decking 24 near the prow of the boat 14, the propeller driving shaft 86 is preferably driven by means of a flanged connection 124 to the upper end of a shaft 126 upstanding from a gear box 128 which is supported on the boat bottom 13d, and from which a horizontal shaft 136 extends rearwardly, for connection to a motor or engine.

The steering mechanism 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises an angled steering Wheel 1322 located behind a cockpit panel 134 and having a shaft 136 journalled forwardly through the panel 134 and comprising a flanged cylindrical drum 133, on which is frictionally wound a cable or rope l i-tl. The cable 14s; is preferably endless and has flights 1412, coming off opposite ends of the drum 138 and trained forwardly around rear and forward guide pulleys 144, 146, respectively, which are suitably mounted at opposite sides of the drum 1%, as indicated at 148, on suitable supports, such as the opposite sides of the boat 14, and then brought together and wound frictionally around the steering tube drum 120, the arrangement being such that the propeller 116 can be rotated through 360 by turning the steering wheel 132. An adjustable cable tightener 150 can be mounted in the cable 146 for assuring adequate frictional engagement of the cable with the drums 120 and 138.

The propeller 116 is pitched so that when it is directed straight forwardly and is driven, the boat 14 will be pulled forwardly through the water in a straight path, but can be steered to either side into angular or curved courses by turning the steering wheel 132, the forward speed of the boat being controlled by throttling of the motor. To slow down, stop, and reverse the course of the boat 14, the steering wheel 132 is turned so as to point the propeller 116 rearwardly.

It will be observed that the components of the herein described assembly are relatively simple and uncompli cated in form, and that they can be easily assembled and disassembled, and replaced when worn, and that the principal wearing parts, including the propeller unit, gears and bearings, are protectively enclosed and can be adequately lubricated by available lubricating means.

While there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the inventionas defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined propelling and steering assembly comprising a propeller unit and a steering mechanism, said propeller unit comprising an upstanding vertical hollow support housing having upper and lower ends, means for securing said lower end upon a horizontal support, said upper end having a vertical bore extending therethrough and having an upper surface, a vertical steering tube having an upper end journalied through said bore and a lower end, an enlarged diameter socket on the upper end of the steering tube, said socket rotatably bearing upon the upper surface of the upper end of the support housing, external bracket means fixed to said support hous- However, in the ing, a stationary horizontal disc having a peripheral edge, said stationary disc being fixed at its peripheral edge to the bracket means and located above the upper end of the support housing, said stationary disc having a central opening in which said socket is journalled, a rotary disc bearing upon the stationary disc, said rotary disc having a peripheral edge registered with the peripheral edge of the stationary disc, combined bearing and retaining means fixed to the bracket means and embracing the peripheral edges of the discs, at central tubular stud on and depending from said rotary disc and secured in said socket, a propeller driving shaft extending upwardly through said steering tube, said socket, and said stud, said driving shaft having a lower end below the lower end of the steering shaft for connection to driving means, said shaft having an upper end extending above said rotary disc, and a propeller assembly mounted upon said rotary disc and having a horizontal propeller shaft operatively connected to the upper end of the driving shaft.

2. A combined propelling and steering assembly comprising a propeller unit and a steering mechanism, said propeller unit comprising an upstanding vertical hollow support housing having upper and lower ends, means for securing said lower end upon a horizontal support, said upper end having a vertical bore extending therethrough and having an upper surface, a vertical steering tube having an upper end journalled through said bore and a lower end, an enlarged diameter socket on the upper end of the steering tube, said socket rotatably bearing upon the upper surface of the upper end of the support housing, external bracket means fixed to said support housing, a stationary horizontal disc having a peripheral edge, said stationary disc being fixed at its peripheral edge to the bracket means and located above the upper end of the support housing, said stationary disc having a central opening in which said socket is journalled, a rotary disc bearing upon the stationary disc, said rotary disc having a ,eripheral edge registered with the peripheral. edge of the stationary disc, combined bearing and retaining means fixed to the bracket means and embracing the peripheral edges of the discs, a central tubular stud on and depending from said rotary disc and secured in said socket, a propeller driving shaft extending upwardly through said steering tube, said socket, and said stud, said driving shaft having a lower end below the lower end of the steering shaft for connection to driving means, said shaft having an upper and extending above said rotary disc, and a propeller assembly mounted upon said rotary disc and having a horizontal propeller shaft operatively connected to the upper end of the'driving shaft, said combined means comprising reclining U-shapes having lower arms secured to the bracket means at locations spaced around the discs, bight portions against which the peripheral edges of the discs bear, and upper arms engaged with the upper surface of the rotary disc.

3. A combined propelling and steering assembly comprising a propeller unit and a steering mechanism, said propeller having upper and lower ends, means for securing said lower end upon a horizontal support, said upper end having a vertical bore extending therethrough and having an upper surface, a vertical steering tube having an upper end journalled through said bore and a lower end, an en larged diameter socket on the upper end of the steering tube, said socket rotatably bearing upon the upper surface of the upper end of the support housing, external bracket means fixed to said support housing, a stationary horizontal disc having a peripheral edge, said stationary disc being fixed at its peripheral edge to the bracket means and located above the upper end of the support housing, said stationary disc having a central opening in which said socket is journalled, a rotary disc bearing upon the stationary disc, said rotary disc having a peripheral edge registered with the peripheral edge of the stationary disc, combined bearing and retaining means fixed to the bracket means and embracing the peripheral edges of the discs,

a central tubular stud on and depending from said rotary disc and secured in said socket, a propeller driving shaft extending upwardly through said steering tube, said socket, and said stud, said driving shaft having a lower end below the lower end of the steering shaft for connection to driving means, said shaft having an upper end extending above said rotary disc, and a propeller assembly mounted upon said rotary disc and having a horizontal propeller shaft operatively connected to the upper end of the driving shaft, said propeller assembly comprising a globular housing having an open lower end fixed upon the rotary disc around the upper end of the driving shaft, a horizontal radial bearing sleeve fixed to a side of said globular housing, a propeller shaft icurnalled in said sleeve and having an inner end within the globular housing, and means operatively connecting the inner end of the propeller shaft to the upper end of the driving shaft.

4. A combined propelling and steering assembly comprising a propeller unit and a steering mechanism, said propeller unit comprising an upstanding vertical hollow support housing having upper and lower ends, means for securing said lower end upon a horizontal support, said upper end having a vertical bore extending therethrough and having an upper surface, a vertical steering tube having an upper end journalled through said bore and a lower end, an enlarged diameter socket on the upper end of the steering tube, said socket rotatably bearing upon the upper surface of the upper end of the support housing, external bracket means fixed to said support housing, a stationary horizontal disc having a peripheral edge, said stationary disc being fixed at its peripheral edge to the bracket means and located above the upper end of the support housing said stationary disc having a central opening in which said socket is journalled, a rotary disc bearing upon the stationary disc, said rotary disc having a peripheral edge registered with the peripheral edge of the stationary disc, combined bearing and retaining means fixed to the bracket means and embracing the peripheral edges of the discs, a central tubular stud on and depending from said rotary disc and secured in said socket, a propeller driving shaft extending upwardly through said steering tube, said socket, and said stud, said drivng shaft having a lower end below the lower end of the steering shaft for connection to driving means, said shaft having an upper end ex tending above said rotary disc, and a propeller assembly mounted upon said rotary disc and having a horizontal propeller shaft operatively connected to the upper end of the driving shaft, and means on the lower end of the steering tube for connection to steering means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,019,635 Harlow Mar. 5, 1912 1,863,989 Liisanantti June 21, 1932 1,866,482 Olsen July 5, 1932 2,341,911 Drex-ler et al Feb. 15, 1944 

